Australia Drop Labuschagne, Lose Smith to Injury Ahead of First West Indies Test; Konstas and Inglis Named as Replacements

Australia will field a reshaped top order for the first Test against West Indies in Barbados on June 25, with Marnus Labuschagne dropped due to poor form and Steven Smith ruled out through injury. In their place, selectors have called up young batter Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, signaling a shift in approach just months after the World Test Championship final. Labuschagne, who had been promoted to opener for that match, continued his lean patch with scores of 17 and 22, prompting selectors to end a run that saw him feature in every Test since 2019. Chief selector George Bailey acknowledged Labuschagne’s ongoing struggles but emphasized their continued belief in his long-term value. Smith, meanwhile, suffered a compound dislocation to his right little finger during the WTC final and, while avoiding surgery, requires extended rest in a splint. Inglis, who impressed with a debut century in Sri Lanka earlier this year, and Konstas, who made a promising start against India last summer, will now step into a batting order that remains unsettled. Konstas is expected to open alongside Usman Khawaja, while Inglis will slot into the middle order. With the possibility of spin-friendly conditions in the Caribbean, Australia may also consider pairing Matt Kuhnemann with Nathan Lyon in the playing XI. Final team selections and batting order will be confirmed closer to match day.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.